Knitknoodler's Bloghttps://knitknoodler.wordpress.com
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Streamline Your Knittinghttps://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/streamline-your-knitting/
Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:32:58 +0000http://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/?p=993Continue reading →]]>As we all begin a new year of knitting, it’s important to have our supplies in order. Three simple tasks will make your knitting easier and more enjoyable.

Clean out your yarn stash! Give partially-used skeins and colors you once liked (what were you thinking when you bought that?) to your local senior center or a friend who’s into crafts. Paring it down to the yarn you actually want to use makes it easier to grab a skein and KNIT!

Leftover skeins and balls of yarn take up space.

2. Wind that yarn sitting in your closet! You’ve put off knitting that gorgeous sweater. Why? Because every time you have the urge to knit it, you realize the yarn is still in hanks…you’re in the mood to knit, NOT wind yarn! Need I state the obvious? Wound yarn begs to be knitted!

Please wind us!!!

3. Purge old knitting patterns! We all hoard knitting patterns, on paper and electronically. Go through them and ask yourself a few questions:

Already knitted it? BYE!

Thought it was cute five or ten years ago? BYE!

No more babies in your circle? BYE!

Grabbed it just because it was free but it’s really not you? BYE!

Inherited it along with your late aunt’s bent knitting needles? BYE!

Only keep patterns that EXCITE you or “go-to” patterns that come in handy for last-minute gifts.

Such a happy sweater-wearing family!

With your yarn organized and wound, and your best patterns at your fingertips, it’s so simple and easy to FIND a project and start knitting!

Start the year fresh. Start the year strong. And you’ll knit wondrous things!

Happy Knitting in 2017!

Dani

The Knit Knoodler

]]>knitknoodlerdsc_0015dsc_0008dsc_0001Best FREE Yarn Storage Solutionhttps://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/best-free-yarn-storage-solution/
Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:21:21 +0000http://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/?p=968Continue reading →]]>Knitters love yarn! We love the textures, the colors, the possibilities that arise with the acquisition of new skeins. It’s difficult to walk out of a yarn shop without a bag of yarn to add to the home collection.

So soft and pretty…had to have it!!!

Eventually, a problem arises. After several years of living life as a knitter, one has accumulated quite a stash. Even if you’re one of the more disciplined yarn purchasers, you still end up with leftover balls of yarn that simply can’t be thrown away. Each one of those lovely loners has a future purpose: as a hat, as embellishment, or perhaps as a patchwork throw.

The issue becomes STORAGE. I’ve tried all sorts of storage solutions over the years. Stacked on a shelf in my closet…pretty, like a yarn shop, but the yarn attracted dust. Stuffed into plastic shopping bags and tucked into a large ottoman…I felt like a cat digging through a litter box, trying to find anything. Filed away in a special plastic hobby caddy with nice, deep drawers…my yarn smelled like plastic. Stashed in a non-plastic storage table that used those fabric cubes…eventually dust filtered in and nosy little ladybugs nestled in.

Then, one day, while cleaning out the attic, I came across a handful of clear plastic, zippered bags which originally held newly-purchased sheets and curtains. AHA! I knew I saved these for something! (I don’t throw anything away that even remotely hints at a future use.)

Glad I saved those curtain bags!

YARN STORAGE!! That otherwise throw-away packaging has become the best yarn storage I’ve come across yet. These little babies are:

enclosed – zippers keep out dust and critters

clear – you can see exactly what you’ve got and enjoy the beautiful colors

stackable – they have squared-off corners

FREE – more $ to spend on yarn

Stacked neatly in closet.

If you don’t have any of these zippered bags, ask friends and relatives. More than likely there’s somebody in your world who saves that sort of thing.

I’m counting down with my new set of knitted numbers when I’m not baking cookies and decorating the house. My fave cookies that I made this year were the Lemon-Pistachio Wreaths from the Martha Stewart site. It’s a cut-out cookie, so there’s a little work involved. But they are soooooooooo delicious, it’s well worth the effort!

I’m also busy knitting scarves for gifts–one lacy and one chunky. I’m so pleased at how nice the lace one is coming along! But I had to force myself to take a break from that to let you know that my newest collection of knitting patterns is now available. A pdf pattern book of 10 plushies — numbers zero through nine.

Notice how the stripes match the numbers? And how the stripes on the odd numbers are a different color from the evens?

I designed these with learning in mind. Like my alphabet plushies, these are knitted as two flat pieces, then stitched together and stuffed. The finished numbers are about 6 inches tall using recommended materials. They make great stocking stuffers! Available as an instant download through Ravelry.

Whether you’re busy knitting gifts, or kicking back with a cup of cocoa, ENJOY THE SEASON! Keep it simple. Keep it calm. Here’s a great, super-simple Christmas decorating tip:

I wanted to jazz up my bathroom shelf for the holidays. So I added a battery candle. *Yawn* Even with a sprig of green behind it, it looked blah. So I taped a piece of colorful wrapping paper around the base of the candle (only do this with a battery-powered candle!). Ta-da!…instant festive look!

It really began way back in October 2012, when I mentioned in a post that I was knitting my first pair of socks. They turned out quite nice. Very pretty, aren’t they?

Pretty, but…

But a little bit uncomfortable. I found the intricate lace pattern annoying at times when it was sandwiched between my foot and a snug shoe. So I only wear these lace socks with looser-fitting clogs. On the upside, though, it was super cool to have a sock that fit my foot absolutely perfect.

1. As long as you take your time and measure as you go, you’ll have the best-fitting socks EVER.

I forgot about socks for a while. Then, this year, decided to push ahead. I bought some sock yarn that makes cute color patterns without having to knit with more than one yarn. I knitted a pair of socks using a smooth stockinette stitch. The result? The most comfortable socks I’ve ever worn in my life.

Comfy knee socks!

I was hooked! Not only was this now the best pair of socks in my drawer, but I’d been able to watch TV while knitting them. I didn’t have to sequester myself in a quiet room and concentrate on an intricate stitch pattern.

2. Socks can be wonderful social knitting projects.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a knitting challenge and the thrill of seeing a complex cable evolve before my eyes. But I also like what I think of as “social knitting.” The kind of knitting that you can do while talking with others or watching your favorite show. And with sock knitting, even if you choose not to make a fancy pair, there’s plenty to keep it interesting: turning the heel, decreasing for the toe, etc.

Love my self-striped gray shorties!!

3. Socks on needles make great travel companions.

I’ve been traveling a lot this year, and have found that socks are also great travel knits. A sock is small and tucks easily into a purse. Especially when slipped into a double-pointed needle project case. I bought a pack of these cases at my local yarn shop. What a simple, inexpensive, brilliant concept. Just gather your needles together (including the empty working needle) and slide them—with your knitting on them—into the holder, put on the cap, and voila! A nice, neat package. And for those of you who may have wondered…I’ve flown many times with circular needles, straight needles, and double-pointed needles in my carry-on. Nobody cares.

If you’ve been avoiding socks in your knitting repertoire, give them a try. The first one will probably feel a bit awkward, especially if you’re new to double-pointed needles. But, by the end of the pair, you may very well be hooked.

Hey Hubby, put those shoes back on! : )

I even knitted a pair of camo socks for my husband. He loves them! And he doesn’t even mind that I ran out of yarn and finished up with a different sock yarn. What’s it matter when it’s inside the shoe, right?

Happy Knitting!

Dani

]]>knitknoodlerLove this color!Comfy knee socks!Gray striped short socksCamo Mens SocksBUTTONS! BUTTONS! BUTTONS!https://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/buttons-buttons-buttons/
Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:45:24 +0000http://knitknoodler.wordpress.com/?p=909Continue reading →]]>I’m always looking for unique, handmade buttons to adorn my completed knitting projects. I say “adorn” because the buttons I attach aren’t always functional. They look awesome all by themselves—perched on the brim of a knitted hat or positioned playfully along the edge of a scarf.

Happy Silence skull buttons are fun!

Check out these fabulous handmade buttons for your knitting and sewing projects!

The owner of Brooklyn Weal fashions his buttons from reclaimed wood. There are two types – toggles or flat buttons.

The toggle buttons are made from maple branches or old beams. He collects branches that have naturally been blown out of trees along the streets of Manhattan. As he says, “No trees were harmed in the making of this product!” Then he lovingly crafts these gorgeous buttons, hand-sawing and hand-sanding them to perfection, and uses an all-natural, eco-friendly finish. I LOVE how each toggle button is so unique! As I write this, an order of Brooklyn Weal toggles and flats are headed my way! Can’t wait to get them!

And…I just received my order of incredibly cool clay buttons from Happy Silence! The Day of the Dead inspired skull buttons are artful and fun for lots of projects. Sew one of these on a hat and – BAM! – suddenly it’s obvious your hat was NOT store-bought or knitted by a decrepit aunt. And the assorted buttons are absolutely beautiful!

Colorful Happy Silence clay buttons

As you can see, I received a gorgeous, colorful array in my order. All Happy Silence buttons are handmade from stoneware clay and then glazed and fired for a beautiful finish.

My holiday wish for you:

Peace, Happiness

and

May All Your Knitted Gifts be Completed!

(I’m still knitting like a maniac, trying to get two more scarves done.)

One of my customers had the clever idea of knitting the initials of her son and his betrothed as a wedding gift. But she wanted an ampersand. You know, one of these — & — so she could join the initials together in a loving way. So, at her request, I’ve designed one and it’s now available on Ravelry.

One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, shut the door. After receiving many requests, I’ve been working diligently (okay, maybe semi-diligently…there are so many distractions in the summer) creating patterns for number plushies. Yes!…a set of patterns for number plushies will be available before the year is out.

Was that scarf a success? Nope. It’s tucked away in a drawer, unused, because the yarn is too scratchy for me to wear.

Have I ever once worn that cowl in public that looked so chic in the Vogue Knitting magazine? Not after my husband burst out laughing and called me a babushka. (Vogue models can make anything look fabulous…and granted, maybe my yarn was too thick, so instead of languid sexy drape, I got the thick peasant look.)

And why am I not wearing that Icelandic sweater that I finished months ago? Besides the fact that I had chosen a rather startling color combination.

The past few weeks have been dedicated to reusing yarn that was knitted into something that I wasn’t entirely thrilled with. The scratchy scarf is still tucked in my drawer, awaiting rebirth.

My NEW hat knitted from my babushka cowl yarn.

But the cowl has been re-knitted into a lovely cabled hat that doesn’t make me look like I should be hauling firewood across the steppes on my back. I no longer have one of my best props to make my husband chuckle. But I have a new, warm winter hat.

And the Icelandic sweater?

The original Lopapeysa sweater.

I wasn’t happy with it. I didn’t like the added color along the bottom—it always reminded me of Charlie Brown’s sweater—and the hem was ribbed. Ribbed hems gather around my hips and balloon out the rest of the sweater.

So I ripped out the bottom color work, and did a simple loose bind-off. The sweater is still plenty long enough and now I actually wear it!

REVISED Lopapeysa sweater without bottom color and ribbing.

How to Shorten (or Lengthen) a Sweater

Tearing apart a finished knitted project is a scary prospect after all the time put into knitting it. But it’s actually pretty easy to do. To shorten or lengthen a sweater, simply:

Decide what row will be your cutoff point.

Snip a thread.

Insert your knitting needle into the first open loop.

Continue picking up each loop along that row while carefully pulling out the previously knitted yarn.

Carefully pick up each stitch.

NOTE: Don’t keep snipping the yarn if you want to re-use it…keep it intact as you unravel it, then roll it back up into a small ball for re-knitting.

Once you have the sweater on your needle, do the bind-off of your choice using the ripped-out yarn OR grab some new yarn (the same or a complementary color), and add a new bottom section.

The only issue I ran into was making sure I was picking up loops from the same row. Once in a while, I would wander off-row. It’s obvious when you do, because suddenly you can no longer pull the previously knitted yarn out of the garment. If that happens, just back up a stitch or two and get back on track.

So, take some time to evaluate your finished knitting projects from 2012. If you’re anything like me, they’re made from yarns that are too precious to pitch into the giveaway pile. That lovely alpaca or hand-dyed wool deserves a place in your wardrobe. Take the time to make it happen. You’ll be glad you did!

Why hadn’t I knitted any socks? Two reasons. First, I was busy doing all that other stuff. Second, it just looked complicated. I didn’t have the gumption to try it on my own. And because of various family obligations, I was unable to take a knitting class at one of my local yarn shops.

But, lo and behold, one day I was browsing Craftsy’s online knitting class offerings. They have a wide variety of classes, but one really caught my eye: a toe-up Knit Sock Workshop with Donna Druchunas. In this class, she shows you how to make two sock patterns, one lace and one color work design. The ladies’ lace sock is simply gorgeous! They had my attention.

I had never taken an online knitting class before, although I’ve found various You-Tube stitch tutorials helpful over the years. Was this going to work for me? I browsed the benefits associated with Craftsy’s knitting class. A message board to ask the instructor questions. Printable instructions and sizing charts. I watched a sample video of the class. The knitting instructor went at a comfortable pace, was easy to understand and easy to watch. Plus, I could go back and watch a section again, to make sure I got it right.

So I dove into it! What a great experience. I purchased the Knit Sock Workshop and then something came up that kept me away from my knitting for several weeks. No problem. Once purchased, the class was there for me to go to when I did have the time.

My first lace sock!

Online knitting classes should never totally replace the social interaction you get at your local yarn shop classes. But they are an excellent solution if you either: a) can’t leave the house or aren’t as mobile as you’d like to be; or b) have personal obligations that keep you from a regularly scheduled class at your local yarn shop.

I highly recommend trying a Craftsy class. Once you sign up to get their emails, you’ll receive notices when the classes are on sale, as well.

I just wanted to share the great experience I’m having with my Knit Sock Workshop. I’m thrilled with how my sock is coming along!

Last weekend, I visited the book sale at the local Senior Center and dug up an absolute treasure—Elizabeth Zimmermann’s “Knitter’s Almanac.” What a find! I love her prose and her clean, lovely designs…one for each month of the year.

On a related (believe it or not) note, I finished my lopapeysa sweater. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Love the design of this sweater!

I plan to make another sweater from this pattern, but this time will use the authentic Iceland wool and choose different colors. Something that doesn’t look so much like school colors, something a bit more subdued. As nice as it looks paired with blue jeans, I still feel a bit clownish in it. I’ll save it to wear on days when I don’t mind standing out in a crowd. : )

Now, to get back around to my point. I had a skein of Cascade Soft yellow wool left over from the lopapeysa project. So I decided to make a pair of Mitered Mittens from my new book.

Mitered Mittens from “Knitter’s Almanac”

I love how they turned out! They were a FUN knit, they fit really well and are oh so soft.

The big question is…to embellish or not to embellish? And, if I do chose to embellish, should I keep it simple or go wild?

Should I add a simple blue felt flower?

Or perhaps a multicolored patch of posies?

Please tell me what you think… I could use some thoughts on this.

Happy Knitting!

~dani

PS – I’m working on a new pattern. Hopefully it’ll be ready to unveil in the next week or so… ; )